Chapter 294
Chapter 294
"Your Majesty, we have brought the accused royal physician," the two soldiers dragged a familiar-looking physician into the hall. He was trembling with fear, unsure of what he had done wrong. After all, when he heard about the incident in the palace, hadn’t he rushed over as quickly as possible?
The royal physician, unaware of his wrongdoing, saw the Emperor with the Empress, and Noble Consort Wei beside him. He didn’t even glance around the room, which prevented him from considering the situation thoroughly. Had he noticed Furen Mu and Official Mu, he might have been more cautious in revealing his faults.
"Your Majesty, I deserve to die ten thousand times! I may have been a bit slow in responding to the palace emergency, but I came as quickly as I could. Please have mercy on me," he finished saying, bowing his head to the floor.
"You came immediately upon hearing the news?" The Emperor, hearing this, felt like he had encountered another annoying matter. Previously, Official Mu had already informed him that this physician abandoned over 300 lives to attend to the 20-some injured at a banquet in the palace. Such actions had undoubtedly angered the refugees and the villagers.
The Emperor had felt like beheading someone earlier, and now, and the confirmation of the situation only intensified his feelings. The noble’s expression darkened, but the oblivious physician kept repeating what he was thinking.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I was in a distant place, previously at the refugee grounds. But when I heard about this, I rushed over immediately," the physician thought that saying this would save him. He just tried to convey that he was occupied with other duties and had not been idly wandering.
Mu Heng, upon hearing this, let out a derisive laugh and stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this royal physician abandoned the injured and ill villagers. Is this not dereliction of duty?" Mu Heng added, causing the Emperor’s face to look as if he had been slapped repeatedly.
The royal physician finally realized that besides him, others were present in the room. He looked up to see the formidable couple, , standing there.
The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, his vision blurring as if he couldn’t see clearly. However, his first reaction was to look at Noble Consort Wei, sitting next to the Empress, seeking her help.
And indeed! This royal physician was not a fool. He was aware of the animosity between Noble Consort Wei and Furen Mu. When he received orders from Noble Consort Wei to oversee the refugees and was told to take his time and enjoy some tea, he understood the implication and delayed his duties as much as possible.
In truth, if not for the soldiers urgently summoning him due to the villagers’ outcry about the royal physician, he would have spent more time with the beauties in the manor.
He was unaware of the other physicians’ whereabouts but found himself the only one at the refugee grounds. Initially, he hesitated, unsure of what to do next or if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shortly after starting his treatment, he received a signal to return from Noble Consort Wei immediately.
It wasn’t unusual for a royal physician to rush back to the palace when many concubines, including the Noble Consort, were injured. Their primary duty was to attend to the royal family and palace residents.
But who would have thought that Official Mu and Furen would be standing here while Noble Consort Wei was still injured? And they dared to ask the Emperor to summon him!
“O-Official Mu, Furen Mu, why are you here?” The physician exclaimed loudly in shock. Yueqian responded with a sweet, seemingly harmless smile.
"Oh, nothing much. I just saw how urgently you rushed back to the palace and thought something “major” must have happened. So, I asked people bring me here to understand the situation," Yueqian emphasized the word "major" sarcastically, indirectly criticizing the physician and those behind this malicious scheme.
Noble Consort Wei’s expression briefly changed before returning to normal, her face slightly raised in defiance. She knew that showing any sign of guilt could be used against her.
Moreover, she accepted that she had made a mistake in this game. Recognizing and understanding the consequences, Noble Consort Wei stopped worrying. She anticipated what would happen next and accepted it as a manageable outcome.
"Your Majesty, the royal physician’s actions were truly inappropriate. If things continue this way, what will the villagers think? They might believe that we don’t care about their lives at all. Even a single physician couldn’t be spared to help those in need. Moreover, hosting a banquet on the day of such an incident is..." The Empress put on a sorrowful face, pretending to consult with the Emperor, but she aimed to criticize Noble Consort Wei.
"I know. Everyone, stop talking!" It seemed that the Emperor finally reached his breaking point. The veins on his temples bulged alarmingly, and his voice turned extremely stern.
As the Son of Heaven, his position as Emperor was secure due to the support and trust of the people. If the people ever disagreed and rose against him, it could lead to the rise of factions. Eventually, the land would be engulfed in conflict and strife, with no hope for unity.
Therefore, he needed to consider the people’s thoughts. Minor issues were manageable, but this was a significant problem. Allowing over 300 villagers to suffer and potentially die, while treating his 20 concubines, wouldn’t it make him appear as a cruel and depraved ruler consumed by his own desires?
"Remove this heartless physician from his position. Have him flogged 300 times, then exile his family from the capital. Let this severe punishment serve as a warning to others."
"The duty of a royal physician is not only to care for the royal family but also to value the lives of the people equally. Anyone who fails to recognize this importance will face similar punishment in the future."
"Investigate the whereabouts of the other physicians who did not assist the refugees. If they were attending to other duties, so be it. But if they were not, demote them and cut their salaries. Use those funds to buy herbs and make medicine for the refugees!"
"And as for you..." The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Noble Consort Wei, who was the cause of the potential damage to his reputation. The beautiful woman could only bow her head and feign sorrow, pretending to accept her fate with resignation.
"As the Noble Consort, not only did you fail to prevent the other consorts from being extravagant while the people were in need, but you also participated in the banquet. Henceforth, you are confined for three months, your allowance is reduced by one-third, and you must transcribe the Compassion Sutra to submit to the Empress for the next month."
"As for the one who organized this event, strip her of her title as concubine and reassign her to the servants’ quarters as the Empress sees fit. Announce to everyone that if they fail to recognize the hardship and suffering of the people of Bai Region, we can make them experience it firsthand!"
Having finished, the Emperor took a deep breath. He looked at the couple before him. He was not a fool who did not realized that they sought to hold those accountable who had tried to manipulate the situation against them. Their intentions were correct, and as the Emperor, he needed to support this mindset. Unlike others who used such situations for petty schemes without concern for the Emperor’s reputation, this couple cared about protecting the dignity of the throne.
"This matter has caused you both great trouble. Furen Mu, while caring for your son, you also looked after the general populace. I was right in appointing you as the First Ranked Furen. Therefore, as gratitude for your hard work and for serving as my eyes to instruct those who disregard the people, I will grant you a piece of land."
"This land was originally a gift I intended for the Wei family for raising Noble Consort Wei so well. However, I now see that she still has many shortcomings, so I will grant the land to you instead."
"The land is not very large, but it is adjacent to the capital’s market, with one-fifth of it being waterways. This makes the area very fertile. You may use it for farming or develop it into an inn or market. The total area is approximately 20 Rai, and it will belong to you from today onward."
Although the area was not vast, consisting of only 20 Rai, the Emperor’s gift was a significant honor. The waterways within the land made it particularly valuable, as they connected to the market, facilitating the transport of goods and docking of boats.
The Wei family had coveted this land to build a dock, which would generate substantial profit by charging mooring fees. Given that one-fifth of the 20 Rai was water, it implied a considerable expanse of navigable water, making it an extremely lucrative property.
As soon as the officials heard this news, they were filled with envy, especially those from the Wei family, who were greatly disappointed. However, the other officials supporting the Second Prince didn’t feel much different. Whether it was the Wei or Mu family, they would both benefit equally.
The Crown Prince’s faction was also not very disappointed. Even if the Wei family had received the land, they would still face higher docking fees. The Mu family receiving it was just as acceptable. The real joy for them was seeing the Wei and Mu families in conflict.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The husband and wife bowed to the ruler once again. This was an unexpected and open form of revenue for them. Although they had not anticipated receiving such a gift, owning a dock was still a stroke of good fortune.
In the future, even if their son did not become an official, he could still be a wealthy landlord. Just managing the dock would provide ample income for him.
“Now, you may return. I will go to see the situation myself,” the Emperor announced. The officials were excited, knowing that the ruler’s personal visit meant they needed to prepare thoroughly.
Although they hadn’t yet received refugees under their care, they needed to display their readiness with ample rice and dry food. They also had to organize accommodations and other necessities.
Anyone who thought they could half-heartedly manage the refugees now had to reconsider. They understood how seriously the Emperor took this matter.
The Emperor was willing to overlook the palace fire situation to visit the refugees. Yueqian understood why the Emperor had to take such actions personally.
The actions of the royal physicians and the villagers might have already sparked various rumors. By personally attending to the people’s welfare, the Emperor, who was the ruler of the land, could quell any such rumors, ensuring that the people did not think he didn’t neglect them but instead would come to revere him.
Of course, for Yueqian, there was no issue with this situation. However, for those who had not yet taken any action, it might not be the same...